The Portland daily press., 1887-08-04
EclIPsES
A Glorious August Phenomenon for
the Benfit Of orientaIs Only.

providence Journal1
There will be total eclipse Of the sun on
the 10th. Our satellite when, at new moon,
she passes between the earth and the sun,
will completely hide the great central orb
from the view of those who are In the right
portion Of the globe and under the right con-
diti0ns to behold an exhibition Of celestial
gra9deur far surprising any other seen by
mortal eyes. Unfortunately our country is
not the favored spot for view Of the grand
spectacle. The inhabitants of narrow belt
of land in the Eastern hemisphere will be-
hold the phenomenon in all its awe-lnspiring
glory. The moon before their wondeIisS
gaze Will encroach on the solar surface until
every particle Of sunlight is hidden from
view. The greatest glory Of the scene is then
unfolded. The great globe Of the moon. OF
lnky blackness, seems TO hang suspen ded in
the heavens. A radiant crowd of silyery
ngnt surrounds IL, and rosy prOtuberances
like tongues of fame blaze forth from the
lunar border No words can express the
suDlmity and grandeur Of the exhibition.
But why Is the phenomenon restricted To
TINS small portion OF the globe? In the first
place the sun IS above the horizon. In the
second place the dwellers Of this strip OF
land VIII see the centre Of the moon pass
W. viz SOhthC VI tuC sun III Llt LulTu
place the apparent diameter of the moon is
greater than that OF the sun. The moon is
In perigee, or at her nearest point to the
earth, and therefore her diameter is at its
maximum, 81 ~. The sun is near apogee
and therefore his diameter Is nearly al its
minimum, 81 81. The moons diameter ex-
eseds that OF the sun L 10'', and she must
more than cover the sun.
The moon casts a shadow In the form of a
cone, with the point extending to the earth,
the sharp point. 1t is seldom much moTe
Than hundred miles wide. The part of the
globe where the shadow falls is alled the
path OF totality or the line of the central
eclipse, and all the observers within the belt
OF the moons shadow will see the fun hidden
from view.
The path of totality for the coming eclipse
passes through Germany, Poland, Russia,
Mantchoria and Japan, reaching its limit in
the Pacific Ocean. Astronomers from all
parts OF the world are establishing them
selves in the most favorable positions for OBJ
servation and will make the most Of the few
precious moments at their command for
wrestling from the sun some Of the weighty
secrets held In his omnipotent grasp. The
most favorable stations will be at some dis
tance east from the commencement of the
pain OF totality for the farther east the OBJ
server Is the later will the eclipse occur
The sun will rise in the middle Of the total
eclipse at Nordhausen In Saxony. At Irk-
Oucbs III OAUtIlds tuc eclipse Will occur at
MONDAY, and at sunset when 1t reaches its
limit In the Pacific ocean. rhe duration Of
the eclipse at Gauderoz will be 2m. 5sec. at
Vilna,2m Pm. 15sec. In the enyirons Of Moscow,
2m. 30sec. at Perm nearly 3m. The maxi
mum duration. 3m. 50sec., will be reached at
Bain-Gcl. China.
The noteworthy feature Of tha eclipse of
the 10th Is that its path is principally over
the land, and that large number of i'm
portant cities and towns are scattered along
the route.